Home delayed again, Sony adds more users to closed beta

The Home online service for the PlayStation 3 sees another delay as the closed …

Sony has sent word that the closed beta of its online Home service for the PS3 has been expanded through the summer, pushing the open beta into the fall of this year. The company does say whether more registrants will be invited into the beta, however.

"We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today," said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Our overarching objective is to provide users with new gaming experiences that are available only on PLAYSTATION Home. Spending more time on the development and on the Closed Beta testing reaffirms our commitment to bringing a quality service, maintaining the PlayStation tradition."

Home has certainly seen its share of delays, and this is bad news for people who just want to mill about in their virtual homes, collecting trophies and organizing online games. We can only hope that the time will be used to make Home the best service it can be. If the open beta begins and the service blows everyone away, great. If it opens and the service is glitchy or underwhelming after all these delays, there could be a backlash.

Or, it's possible Sony and Konami are simply on an extended beer run this week.